Apparatus for manufacturing venetian blinds



S. HAMMER Nov. 25, 1941.

APPARATUS FQR MANUFACTURING VENETIAN BLINDS Original Filed April 15, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet l w \L f N 2 fik QR w? 'INVENTOR SAMUEL HAMMER ATTORNEYS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS S. HAMMER Nov. 25, 1941.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VENETlAN BLINDS Original Filed April 15, 1936 S. HAMMER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VENETIAN BLINDS Original Filed April 15, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR SAMUEL HAMMER BYE 2 R V I v I ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1941. s HAMMER 2,264,162

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VENETIAN BLINDS Original Filed April 15, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR SAMUEL HAMMER BY BMM\-WHJZI L ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1941. s. HAMMER 2,264,162

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VENETIAN BLINDS Original Filed April 15, 1936 9 Shets-Sheet 5 14 191 145 I: j k 147 1 H i H 1- 127 ma m 1% jig INVENTOR SAMUEL HAMMER ATTORNEYS .Nov. 25, 1941. A s. HAMMER 2,264,162

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VENETIAN BLINDS Original Filed April 15, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 1 v i-mll w INVENTOR SAMUEL HAMMER BY gmwrim ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1941. s. HAMMER 2,264,162

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VENETIAN BLINDS Original Filed April 15, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEYS S. HAMMER Nov. 25, 1941.

A APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VENETIAN BLINDS 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed April 15, 1936 INVENTOR SAMUEL HAMMER N/law W ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1941. s, HAMMER 2,264,162

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VENETIAN BLINDS Original Filed April 15, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 'FE -E.J.

INVENTOR SAMUEL HAMMER ATTORNEYS Patented APPABATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VENETIAN Bumps Samuel Hammer, Broo y N. Y., assignor to United Metal Box 00., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of'New York Original application Amt 15,1936, Serial No.

m OFFICE.

74,691. Divided and this application December 28, 1939, Serial No. 311,273

7 Claims. (Cl. 29-84) This invention relates to apparatus for use in manufacturing Venetian blinds and is a division of my co-pending application Serial Number 74,601 filed April 15, 1936, now Patent No. 2.211,- 620, dated Aug. 13, 1940.

An important object of my invention is to provide a novel method of constructing and assembling Venetian blinds of a type which can be manufactured in large quantities and sold at a cost below those oflered on the market at the present time, and to provide suitable mechanism for facilitating the construction or assembly of such blinds.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved mechanisms for using, in the construction of Venetian blinds, what may be described as single supporting tapes, as distinguished from double or so-called ladder tapes, heretofore used in the manufacture of such blinds, and while there are many ways of fastening such tapes to the slats I prefer to use means for securely fastening the tapes to the edge faces of the slats by clips or other slat engaging elements which may easily be removed as occasion requires.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will either become apparent or be referred to specifically in the following description thereof wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 show plan and elevational views, respectively, of a machine in which a flexible tape, preferably made of fabric and having staple-like spring clips securely disposed thereon at spaced intervals may be gathered together with all the clips disposed in regular alignment and held at closely spaced intervals with respect to one another so that all of said clips may be graspedsimultaneously in a tape magazine.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, including an elevational view of a tape magazine disposed in position to receive a gathered tape.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on lines 44 and 5-5 respectively of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged right-hand end view of the upper or table portion of the machine shown.

in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 7 and 8 are elevational and plan views,

zine with a portion broken away to illustrate a gathered tape disposed therein with the clips held in regular spaced alignment.

Figure 10 is a view of a magazine and a gathered tape disposed therein taken on line Ill-19 of Figure 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and including portions illustrating the manner in which the same is mounted on the gathering machine.

Figure 11 is an end view of the magazine shown in Figure 9.

Figures 12 and 13 are sectional views taken on lines i2l2 and l3i3, respectively, of Figure 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

- Figure 14 is a sectional view of the magazine similar to that shown in Flgure12, except that the tooth members for holding the clips of the tape are shown in open position.

Figure 15 illustrates a plan view of a machine for gripping a plurality of Venetian blind slats and holding the same in position to receive from a loaded tape magazine a plurality of clips and otherwise illustrates a manner of finally assembling the tapes and slats.

Figure 16 is an enlarged view taken on line lB-lB of Figure 15, showing the magazines in open position and showing the gathered tapes secured to a bundle of slats by means of the clips cooperating with perforations in the edge face of the slats.

Figures 17 and 18 show elevational and end views respectively of the machine shown in Figure 15.

Figure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the front portion of the machine shownv in Figure 15 with the magazines and slats in a position just prior to the opening of the magazines, as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary view of a plurality of slats bundled together as they are in the machine shown in Figure 17 and showing the regular arrangement and spacing of the clip holes or perforations in the edge face thereof.

Figure 21 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of assembling to a head bar com prising a tilting slat, by means including raising and lowering cords, a bundle of intermediate slats having supporting tapes secured thereto and a lowermost slat.

Figure 22 is a bottom view of the lowermost slat shown in Figure 21.

Figure 23 is an end view of the bundle of slats shown in Figure 21. i

It will be understood that a Venetian blind. such as referred to herein, comprises what is generally described as a head bar mounted in any accessible position atone side of the blind. In-

asmuch as my present invention relates particularly to the assembly of Venetian blind slats and their supporting tapes and means for facilitating the same, it isbelieved unnecessary to illustrate the complete blind, particularly in view of the fol lowing description.

A tape 23, comprising a plurality of spaced tubular loops or casings 2| secured in any suitable manner at one side thereof, is shown in Figures 3 to 7. In the-example shown, the ioops'2l are woven integral with the tape Z It will be understood that the distance between the loops 2| is equal to the desired distance between the slats of an assembled blind when the same are open or lowered, so to speak. Thedrawings also illustrate what I shall describe as a spring clip 22 or slat engaging element by which the tape 28 is secured or fastened at spaced intervals to the edge faces, respectively, of the plurality of slats of the blind.

The clips 22, see detail in Figure 8, are preferably made of a piece of spring wire having a cross bar 23 with the endsthereof bent to form arms:

24 and 28 having hooks 28 and 21 formed thereon by bending a portion of the arms inwardly until ends 28 and 28 of the hooks are spaced a short distance from the cross bar 23. It will be understood that when the clip is bent as described the parts 23 to 28 are all disposed in the same plane and form what may be described as a staple-like structure having a head 23 and two points 28 and 21, mounted on the tape 28; and in the example here shown by means of the tubular loops 2|. All of the clips used throughout the length of the tape are of the same size and proportion except those disposed at the ends thereof, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 at 38 and 3|, which, have a cross bar or head portion longer than the cross bar 23 above described. While other structures embodying my invention may be constructed, the preferred tape and clip structure, per se,

forms the subject matter of my patents numbered 2,130,319 and 2,130,320 issued September 13, 1938.

After the clip is formed it is adapted to be pressably inserted into perforations formed in the edge faces of the slats and be secured therein by the engagement of ends 28 and 28 with the edges of the perforations. The proportions of these clips and the size and position of the perforations are such that after the clips are disposed in the perforations they may be i'lexed sufficiently to unhook and remove one end thereof, whereupon the clip then may be manipulated so that the other end can also be removed.

7 Planting or gathering mechanism Referring now to Figures 1 to '1 I shall describe what, for the want of a better name, may be referred to as a tape pleatingor gathering mechanism or gathering table, which in the example illustrated is approximately eight feet long.

, This mechanism comprises a pair of parallel side rails 38 and 38, secured togetherat spaced intervals by means of end plates 31 and intermediate plates 38. The table is mounted in any suitable manner upon a supporting structure; shown by way of example as leg means 38 and 48. Between the rails 38 and 36 is disposed a vertically movable bottom plate 4| extending the full length of the table; which when disposed in its lowermost position is adapted to rest on the plates 31 and 38. The bottom 4| is freely movable on vertical ,guide pins 42 and 43, see Figures 4 and 6, fixed in the end plates 31 and adapted to prevent the longitudinal displacement of the plate 4|.

A cam mechanism operated by a long handle or bar 44 is provided for elevating the bottom 4| for a purpose to be hereinafter described. This cam mechanism comprises a pair of eccentric rollers 48 and 48 each of which have journals 41 and 43 mounted in bearings 48 and 88 secured to the rails 38 and 38. Arms 8| and-82, each having one end secured" respectively to the journals 41 and the other end secured respectively to the handle 44 complete the cam mechanism for raising and lowering the bottom plate 4|. It will be understood that the eccentric portions of the cams 48 and 48, when rotated, are adaptedto move freely between the rails 38 and 38 and lift the bottom 4| along the guide pins 42 and 43 above the plates 31 and 38 and support the same in an elevated position above said plates at a distance approximately equal to the throw of the cam. Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the bottom 4| and the cam mechanism in its lowermost position with the handle 44 disposed toward the right-hand end of the machine and with the arms 8| and 82 resting on stop pins83 and 84. Figure 2 illustrates, in dotted lines, the position occupied by the handle 44 and arnis 8| and 82 when the cams are elevated and the bottom plate 4| is disposed in the position shown in Figure 6.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6 it will be cured respectively along each side of the bottom 4|. Along the center of the bottom and between the rails 88 and 88 is secured a member 81 of channel or U-shaped cross-section with the sides longitudinal opening 82 leading to a space 83 formed between the rail 88 and the channel side 88. Similar angle strips 84 and 88 form a restricted longitudinal opening 88 leading to a space 81 formed between rail 88 and channel side 88. It will be noted that the upper surfaces of the legs of the angle strips forming the openings 82 and 88 are disposed in the same plane as the upper edges of the channel sides 88-88.

A drag III having a head (I on one end and a handle 12 on the other is slidably mounted in a block 13 secured in the channel member 81 at the extreme left-hand end thereof. The head H is preferably made of a form adapted slidably to fit within the channel member 81. A guard 14 is secured to the end of the table to prevent the drag from accidentally being bent out of alignment. The purpose of this drag will be described presently. v

Mounted on the bottom 4| is what I shall describe as a slidably extendable and contractlble pleating or gathering conveyor comprising a pair of fabric tapes 88 and 8|, see Figures 6, 7 and 8, each of which is approximately as long as the gathering table, and disposed respectively in spaces 88 and 81. One end of each tape 88 and 8| is-securely clamped at the left-hand end 01' the table beneath the projecting sides of the angle strips 88-8|, and 88-85, respectively, in any suitable manner such as by means of plates 82 and 83, and screws 84, see Figure 4. The other ends of the tapes 88 and 8| are secured by means of a cap plate 85 and clamping plates 88 and 81, see Figures 7 and 8, to a movable block 88, adapted to slide throughoutthe length or the table in the trough of the channel member 51. The cap plate 85 is secured to the block 88 by means of screws 88, one of which is shown in Figure 8. The right-hand end of the tape 88 is secured to one side of the cap plate 85 by means of screws SI and the plate 88 and the corre--v respectively, to the left-hand ends of the angle strips 88--8| and 88-85 and the other ends of said tapes are secured, respectively, to the movable blocks 88, the loops 93 will be disposed within the restricted longitudinal openings 82-88,

see Figures 5 and 6, with the loops 98 on tape 88 directly opposite the correspondingly numbered loops on the tape 8| A plurality of rods 84, each having ends 85 and 88 bent in opposite directions in the plane of the rod, are disposed in the loops 83 and serve as 1 supports to hold the tapes 88 and 8| throughout the length of the table in engagement with the under side of the angle strips 88-8I and 88-85, respectively. A dotted line 91 in Figure 7 illustrates the top surface of the angle strips on which the rods 98 are adapted to slide as they support the tapes 88 and 8|. In Figure 8 the angle strips 88--8| and 84-85 are shown in dotted lines.

A flag having a weighted lower edge 99 and a folding point I88 disposed on the upper edge thereof, is rigidly mounted on each rod 94 and adapted to hang vertically from the rod in the channel 57. A handle i'8I having pins I82 adapted to fit in the holes I83 in the block 88 is provided for extending and contracting the pleating or gathering conveyor in a manner to be hereinafter described.

From the above it will be understood that when the block 88 is pulled to the right-hand movable block 88 may also be pushed toward the leit-hand end of the table whereupon the tapes 88 and 8| will be pleated or folded in the form of a succession of loops and disposed respectively in the spaces 838| with the top of each loop supported under the angle strips by means of the loops 83 and rods 84, see Figure '7.

The reason for bending the ends of the rods as described is to reduce the tendency for them to roll as they slide back and forth on the angle strips and also to make the flags 98 and points I88 stand uprightly in the trough when the conveyor is slidably extended or contracted therein. Finally, by bending the rods, as above described, they are adapted to nest closely together side by side as shown at the right hand end of Figures 7 and 8.

The space above the bottom II is closed except for a centrally disposed slot I 0! irregular cross section, see Figures 1 and 4. extending from one end of the table to the other and in which, as will hereinafter be described, the tape 28 is adapted to fit slidably with the clips 22 hanging vertically downward with the cross bars 28 or head portion thereof disposed in the loops 2| and positioned centrally of the tape. While this slat could be made otherwise, it is here shown as being formed by a plurality of spaced guide strips comprising plates each having one edge thereof secured respectively to the top edge of the side rails 85 and 38, and a pair of strips. The apposed edges of all of these pieces project inwardly to form the slot I85. The upper plates I88 and I87 are comparatively heavy and because of their function-of guiding the edges or the tape 28, may be described as tape edge guide plates. The plates I88 and I88, because 01 their function of centralizing the clips 22 in the loops 2|, may be referred to as clip guides. Strips H8 and III are secured respectively to the plates I88'and I8! by means of screws H2, see Figures 1 and 2, and form a support for the tape 28 when it is pulled into the slot I85. It will be noted that the distance between the apposed edges of strips IN and III is approximately equal to the length of the loops 2| and that the thickness of said plates is such as to permit the tape 28 to be disposed in the slot I85 while resting on the edges of the strips II8-III with the edges of said strips disposed above the cross bars 28 of the clips 22, see Figures 5 and 8. At the left-hand end of the table the slot I85 opens into a rectangular magazine opening III formed by the strips just described. It will be noted that for the length of the opening H8 there are no cross bars 98 and flags 98.

Hinged at the extreme right-hand endof g the table is a guide member III for facilitating the disposition of the tape 28 in the slot I85, that is, after one end of the tape 28 is laid fiat on the strips H8 and III with the edges adjacent the plates I88 and I81, and with the first clip started under said strips, the guide member Ill may be dropped down as shown in Figure 6, over the right-hand end of the slot I85 to warp or cause a slight camber in the tape, as it is drawn into the slot I85. The guide member II'i comprises, for this pu pose, a plate Ii8 secured thereto and adapted to lie upon the tape 28 and hold it flat against the strips H8 and HI. A'block H8 is disposed centrally of the plate M8 for the purpose of depressing the central portion of the tape 28 as the same is drawn into the slot I85. A post K28 secured at the right-hand end of the table to the plate 81, see Fig. 6, stands with the upper end thereof disposed centrally oi the slot I85 and serves as a further guide for the clips as the tape is drawn into the slot I85.

From the above it will be understood that, when the tapes 88 and 8| of the conveyor are extended the length of the table by moving the block 88 to the right and the handle I8| is removed, a Venetian blind tape 28 may be drawn or threaded longitudinally into the slot I85, as shown in Figure 3, with the clips hanging downwardly above the flags of the conveyor. Now,

when the handle 44 is moved to the left, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bottom 4I carrying the conveyor and flags 98 is elevated bodily to dispose each of the points I in the slot I05 and cause said points, respectively, to make a slight crease, or initial bend I2I in the tape I20 between each pair of clips 22. Thereafter, the handle IOI with its pins I02 extending through the slot I05 may be placed in the block 88 and the conveyor slidably contracted to the left-hand end of the machine causing the tape 20 to be progressively folded or gathered, in a zig-zag manner as shown in Figure 7, with all of the clips disposed in alignment at one side thereof and in close spaced relationship with one another.

When the handle 441s moved to the right, the amount of the elevation of the bottom H is limited by the upper edges of the rails 55 and 53 coming to rest against the plates I03 and I09. It will now be understood that the reason for making the sides 58 and 59 of the channel member 51 lower than the rails 55 and 55 is to provide a clearance space below the plates I03I09 in which the rods 94 may slide freely back and forth when the bottom is elevated for the reasons above described.

Tape magazine Referring now more particularly to Figures 9 to 14, I shall describe what I regard as a preferred structure and operation of a tape magazine for gripping or holding all of the slat engaging elements of a blind tape after the same has been pleated by the mechanism above described. This tape magazine comprises a body portion made of a plurality of parts I25 and I26 of any suitable material although it may, if desired, be constructed iii a single properly shaped block. The I upper part I25 of the body portion is of T-shaped cross section adapted to flt slidably and snugly into similarly shaped slots, to be hereinafter described, the part I23 being secured thereto by screws not shown. Rigid sides I21 and I23 having inwardly turned flanges I29 and I30 are secured to and project downwardly from the sides of part I26 to form a rectangular tubular cavity I3I having a slot I32 at the bottom thereof, see Figure 14. Hingeably secured to each side of the magazine body is a side piece I 33 having an inwardly turned flange I34 provided with a plurality of equally spaced notches or comb-like teeth I35, formed in the edge thereof, see Figure 10. In the device here shown the center distances between these notches is approximately .098 inch, but it will be understood that this distance bears a relation to the thickness of the blind slats to be hereinafterdescribed and may be varied when it is desired touse, in the construction of blinds, slats of different thicknesses.

Hinges I36 for securing the side pieces I 33 to the body of the magazine comprise any suitable spring means I3'I tending to bias the sides I33 into open position, as shown in Figure 14. Arms I33 secured respectively to the sides I21 and I23 and having hooks I39, see Figures 11 and 12, are adapted to pass through openings I40 in the sides I33 and serve as stops to limit the opening movement of the toothed sides I33. A slide catch I4I forming an opening I42 and having an upper and lower outwardly turned flange I43 and I44 is secured by any suitable lost-motion connection, see Figure 9, to each side piece I33. The upper edge of the opening I42 in catch I is adapted to cooperate with notches I45 formed in the arms I38 to lock the side piece in closed position with the flanges I34 in apposition and disposed immediately below the flanges I23 and I30 forming the slot I32, see Figures 11, 12 and 13. A spring I43 is mounted above each slide I to cooperate with the flanges I43 and urge the slide downwardly so that when the sides I33 are in closed or locked position the upper edge of the opening I42 of the slide catches I are disposed in the notches I45 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The flanges I44 are disposed below thelower surfaces of the flanges I34, also for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. Spring pressed plungers 1, adapted to yieldably engage the sides I21 and I23, are mounted in the sides I 33 in any suitable way to j increase the pressure necessary to close and latch the sides I 33 in the position shown in'Figure 13.

The plungers I" also serve as a yieldablestop for positioning the sides I33 in closed position vand thereby facilitate the latching engagement of the opening I42 and notch I45 above described. In Figures 9 and 10 it will be seen that each end of the sides I21 and I23 extends beyond the flanges I29 and I30. These ends are adapted to fit in notches I43 formed in the plates I03 and I 31 at each end of the opening II3 of the table, see Figures 1, 3 and 10, to locate themagazine on the table with the slot I32 in alignment with the table slot I05 and with the flanges I29-I33 in direct alignment with the ends of the strips H0 and III. Q

In order to load a magazine as shown in Figures 9 to 12, an open empty magazine like that shown in Figure 14 is first disposed in the notches I48, see Figures 3 and 10, and the drag II-I2 is moved to the right across the opening HE. A tape 23, after the same has been progressively gathered as above described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, is then pushed as a unit into the cavity I3I of the magazine. The taps 20, between the clips 22, will be looped upwardly like that shown at the right-hand ends of Figures 7 and 9 with all the clips disposed in the magazine slot I32, and held erect in spaced relationship with respect to one another by the flags 93, see Figure 7. The thickness of the clips and flags is such that the center distance between the clips of the gathered tape will be .098 inch or, in other words, equal to the pitch of the teeth I35 on the flanges I34 above described. The purpose of the drag "-12 is to offer resistance to the unit of gathered tape as the same is pressed into the magazine. The resistance thus offered by the drag II-I2 and the force necessarily applied to the block 33 in collapsing the tape 20 and to push the same into the magazine is sufllcient to conflne the clips 22 and tape 20 so closely together that the magazine sides I33 may thereafter be closed and latched and confine the adjacent clips in pairs of oppositely disposed notches I35, see Figures 9 to 13. After the magazine is thus loaded, so to speak, with a gathered tape 20, it may be lifted out of the notches I43 for use in a subsequent operation of assembling the tape 23 to the slats of the blind, to be hereinafter described. It will be understood that thereafter the conveyor, comprising tapes 33 and 3|, may be moved to the left of the table and the handle III removed from the block 33, whereupon the bottom 4| is lowered by moving the handle 44 to the left and into another magazine may be repeated as above described. It will be understood that I contemplate using a plurality of magazines like those above described as a matter of convenience in commercially assembling my Venetian blinds.

My invention is particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited, to facilitating the attachment or assembly of the tapes 20 on the edge face of a blind slat. One form of slat. here shown by way of example, is preferably made of thin sheet metal strips, see Figure 16, stiffened by having the edges thereof bent over with respect to the plane-of the strip. The formation of the stiflening edges at each side of the slat also gives .to the same, from the standpoint of overall cross-sectional thickness, the appearance of stability similar to that of the wooden slats in common use. A plurality, of said slats I49 bundled together face to face are shown in Figures .20, 21 and 23. The blanks from which each ,of these slats are made were formed with suitably proportioned and properly located perforations which in the formation of the slat were disposed in the edge face thereof as shown at I50 in Figures 17 and 20 to receive the clips 22,

as illustrated in Figure 16. Moreover, when the edge faces of the strips are bent and the slats are finally formed, as illustrated and described, the clip perforations, I50 are disposed therein about axes parallel to what may be described as the upper and lower major surfaces of the finished slat. In other words, these perforations are disposed in the edge face of the slat and lie wholly between its upper and lower major surfaces. An important, reason for forming the slat in this manner is to be able, with the clip means above described, to fasten the tapes to the slats so that when the finished blind is elevated the slats will nest together face to face making the bundling height of the slats no greater than the summation of the thicknesses of the several slats of the blind. Heretofore the tapes of certain forms of Venetian blinds have been fastened to the slats by means passing through the upper and lower major surfaces of the slat with the result that when the blind is elevated either the fastening means or portions of the tapes themselves are interposed between adjacent slats which necessarily prevented them from contacting or nesting together face to face, as I prefer to construct my blind.

An important feature in the method of assembling my blind is the fact that the raising and lifting cords and particularly the tapes, as I shall more particularly describe hereinafter may be assembled while all of the slats of the blind are nested together in a bundle face to face, as shown in Figures 21 and. 22.

Tape-slat assembling mechanism In Figures to I illustrate what may be described as one form of tape-slat assembling machine. This device comprises a table-like member having a front portion I52 and a rear portion I53 supported on legs I54. An irregularly shaped opening I55 is formed in the front portion of the table. An adjustable slat support I56, having guides I51, is slidably mounted on a stationary bar I58, secured to and depending from the undersurface of the table, by means of a movable bar I59 through which said stationary bar I58 passes. The bar I59 is rendered vertically adjustable along the bar I58 by means of a screw I60 rotatably mounted in a bearing I6I fixed to the bar I58; said screw I60 passing through an internally threaded hole in said bar mechanism I82 comprlsing bevel means. I63 is mounted at the side of the machine in any suitable way for raising and lowering the support I56 to any desired position.

A stationary jaw I54 is mounted on the front of the table at one side of the opening I55 and directly opposite a movable jaw I65. Both of I these jaws are disposed within the opening I55 and extend for a distance-above and below the table as shown in Figures 17 and 18. The movable jaw I65 is carried by a sliding member I66 mounted in any suitable guide or mounting means I61 for a horizontally slidable movement. A stop I68 on the table I53 is provided to limit the opening sliding movement of the member I66 and jaw I55. While any suitable mechanism may be provided for propelling the jaw I65 toward and away from the jaw I64, I prefer to use, and here illustrate, a pneumatic device I69 mounted on the table I53, which device has a piston element I10 connected to the bar I66. The pneumatic device I69 comprises any suitable control valve means "I. The valve means, here shown, is operated by a manual I12 slidably mounted on a support I13 and having a handle I14 disposed at the front of the machine in an accessible position. Stops I15 and I16 on the manual I12 limit the movement thereof between an off or open and an on" or closed position. A rigid guard I11 is secured to the stationary jaw I64 and a movable guard I18 is hinged at 119 to the movable jaw I55.

The amount of the closing movement of the jaw I65 is variably limited by means including agraduated bar I80 slidably mounted in any suitable way on thetop of the member I61 and confined in that position by a splined cover plate Ill. The graduationson the bar I80 are numbered consecutively from 31 to 51 indicating progressive unit changes in the width of the bar between these indicated limits. A pin I82 passing through the plate I8I is adapted to cooperate with any one of a plurality of holes I83 drilled in the bar I80 and corresponding respectively to each graduation. As shown in Figures 15 and 19. the bar I80 is set at graduation number 42 a with the pin I82 disposed in the corresponding hole I86, not shown. An adjustable stop I84, adapted to cooperate with the bar I at the various graduation points is provided on the sliding member I66, and comprises a screw I85 threaded through a boss I86 on the upper edge of the sliding member I65 and a lock nut I81.

, A magazine carrier I90 is movably mounted in any suitable way on the table I52 at each side of the jaws I66 and I65. In the form of device here shown each of the carriers I90 comprises a T-shaped structure having a head I98 and a stem I82, of dove-tailed cross section, slidably mounted in a suitable bearing I93-secured to the top of the table. A manually operable bar I94, pivoted intermediate its ends to the stem I92 by means of a pin I95 and having one end thereof fixed to the bearing I93 by any suitably rotatable lost-motion connecting means I96 is provided for manually moving the carrier I90 at the will of the operator to and from the jaws I64 and I65 and any slats clamped therein. In the head I9I I59. As seen in Figures 1': and 1a a hand wheel 75 'of the carrier I90 is formed a slot I98 adapted to slidably receive the T-shaped top portion I25 of the tape magazine, above described. A stop I99 is provided in the slot I98 to locate the magazine in the carrier at what may be described as a home position. It will be understood that in all essential respects the two carriers shown are the same and for that reason the corresponding parts thereof are similarly numbered.

Fromthe above it will be understood that when the vise-like jaws I and I are opened, as shown in Figure 17, a plurality of Venetian blind slats I stacked together face to face in the form of a bundle 200 may be placed in the machine with their lower ends resting on the support I06 between the guides 151, against the stationary jaw I and the rigid guard IIl secured thereto. Thereafter the hinged guard I10 is closed, as shown in Figure 15, against the slats to hold the same against the guard I". Figure 19 illustrates the position of the movable jaw I65 after the pneumatic device has been operated and the same moved forward to grip and compress the slats I a predetermined amount; the amount of said compression being varied as desired by means of the adjustable stop Ill. When the machine is set at the numeral 42, as here shown, it indicates that 42 Venetian blind slats will be required, having in mind the throw of the movable Jaw I" to properly clamp and compress the same between the Jaws I64 and I65. If it is desired, for instance, to compress 48 slats the pin I02 may be withdrawn from the bar I00 and the latter moved to a position in which the graduation 48 is disposed opposite the stop I04,

whereupon the pin I82 is replaced to hold the plungers Ill and leave the clips secured to the edge face of the slats. Figure 16 illustrates the relative positions of the slats, clips, tapes, magazines and carriers after this releasing operation. Moreover, it shows how the magazine may be removed from the machine by being drawn forward out of the slots I98 and leave the tapes secured to the slats by means of clips. The carriers I90 may then be moved away from the slats and made ready to be reloaded. After the magazine is thus removed the operation further creases the tapes at I2I by pinching the loops together. These creases previously made during the gathering operation .are thereby set in the tapes with such permanence that theywill thereafter fold on said creases when the blind is in use and in the normal operation of the blinds prevent the tapes from inadvertently bending inwardly between the slats when the blind is elevated. 7

During an inspection operation prior to assembling .the tapes on the slats as above de-' scribed, the proper number of slats are gathered and tied together in regular bundles in any suit- 204 and 20!. These parts may be referred to The slats shown in Figure-17 are adapted for ward the center of the machine.

When it is desired to assemble the tapes on the slats of a Venetian blind having only two supporting tapes on each side, and also assemble the tapes on the ends of the slats shown in Figure 17, the adjustable slat support I50 may be moved upwardly to the desired position so that, after the tapes are assembled on one end, the bundle of slats may be reversed in the machine or turned end for end in order to assemble the tapes on the other end without changing the adjustment of the support I50.

It was pointed out above that the flanges I on the side catches Ill of the tape magazines were disposed below or extended beyond, the lower surface of the flanges I. It will now be understood that this construction permits said flanges on a loaded'magazine to abut the edges of a bundle of slats above and below the perforations I50 after the clips 22 have been inserted therein and toward the latter part of the throw of the bars I and thereby release the upper edge of the opening I42 in the catch from open under the influence of the springs I01 and collectively as a head bar unit. The bundle of slats 200, comprising the tapes assembled ereto, may be referred to as an intermediate slat unit. A lowermost slat 206, se Figure 22, having a cord anchoring fixture 201, at each side of cord holes 208 formed therein, may be described as the lower slat unit. It will be seen that perforations III are formed in the edge faces of slats 203 and 200 similar to those in slats 0, except that they are properly positioned and proportioned to receive the elongated clips 20 and 2| secured to the ends of tapes 20 as above described. It will be understood that all of the slats m and slat 200 are provided with cord holes, not shown, corresponding in size and position to the holes 202 in the lower slat 206.

The assembling operations of my blind comprise, in addition to the various steps above described, that of threading through the left-hand end of the head bar 202 and slat 203, bundle of slats 200, and slat 206, a raising and lowering cord 209 and anchoring the end thereof in any suitable way in the left-hand fixture 201 while the units are lying on an assembling table, not shown. Similarly, a cord 2" is threaded through these units at the right-hand ends thereof and anchored to the bottom of slat 200 in the righthand fixture 201. The cords 209 and III are then disposed about any suitable guide pulleys or other means to permit the same to hang from the right-hand end of the head bar, as shown in Figure 21. Thereafter, the various units are drawn together and the clips 30 and 3| on each side of the tapes 20 are pressed by hand into the perforations I50 on each side of the slats 200 and 206. In the interest of clarity, Figure 21 .illustrates these three blind units as being spaced a little further apart during the assembling operation described than is actually necessary and thereby emphasize some of the novel features of my invention.

It will be seen from the above that I have described a method of assembling a Venetian blind having a head bar structure adapted to support a plurality of slats about a plurality of raising and lowering cords comprising the steps of stacking together a plurality of intermediate slats with the edge faces thereof exposed at each side of the stack; tying said bundle together with a band or other suitable means; and when occasion requires compressing said bundle a predetermined amount and during said compression connecting a plurality of slat supporting tapes at spaced intervals throughout the length of said tapes to the edge faces, respectively, of the slats, while said slats are retained in bundled or stacked formation; and operatively connecting the head bar structure to one side of the stack of intermediate slats, and similarly connecting a lowermost slat to the other side of said stack by threading the raising and lowering cords through the stacked slats, and thereafter securing to said head bar structure and lowermost slat respectively, one end of each of said supporting tapes. It will also be understood that other types of slat engaging elements held in regular spaced relationship with respect to similarly spaced slats may be employed with any suitable mechanism for simultaneously connecting said elements to the edges of the slats.

I have found that my method of assembling Venetian blinds, as above described, is a marked improvement over that in present day practice because all but the upper and lower slats are disposed in a bundle which makes it a very simple operation to thread the raising and lowering cord therethrough and indeed, requires very much less space in which to perform this assembling operation. In the past, as far as I am aware, Venetian blinds, particularly those employing what is known as ladder tapes, were assembled by disposing the slats one at a time on the ladders of a pair of depending tapes and thereafter separately threading the raising and lowering cords through each hole in each slat. This is a costly operation which I am able to avoid by the use of my invention. Moreover, so far as I am aware, my invention teaches, among other things, a novel manner of simultaneously affixing to a plurality of slats a tape like that described, and a device whereby such tapes may be simultaneously affixed to each side of a bundle of slats.

While I have described what now seems to be the preferred form of a device embodying my invention, and a preferred manner of practicing the same, various modifications therein may oc= our to those skilled in the art and no specific limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for compressing Venetian blind slats, comprising means for supporting a plurality of slats, a pair of jaws mounted above said support for compressing slats disposed therebetween, and means for moving one of said jaws toward and from the other, in combination with means for variably limiting the movement of said jaw toward the other, said means including a slidably mounted bar of different widths at different sections thereof, said widths increasing progressively along aid bar by amounts equal to the compressed thickness of one of said slats,

bar to stop the jaw in accordance with the width of said selected section.

2. In a machine for compressing Venetian blind slats, comprising means for supporting a plurality of slats, a pair of jaws mounted above said support for compressing slats disposed therebetween, and means for moving one of said jaws toward and from the other, in combination with means for variably limiting the movement of said jaw toward the other, said means including a slidably mounted bar of different widths at different sections thereof, said widths increasing progressively along said bar by amounts equal to the compressed thickness of one of said slats, a stop connected to said movable jaw adapted to cooperate with a selected section of said bar to stop the jaw in accordancewith the width of said selected section, and means for fixing said bar in a position to be engaged by the stop at any one of said sections. a

3. In a machine for compressing Venetian blind slats, comprising a. pair of jaws for compressing a, plurality of slats disposed therebev tween, and means for moving one of said jaws toward and from the other, in combination with means for variably limiting the movement of said jaw toward the other, said means including a slidably mounted bar of different widths at difof said jaws toward and from the other, means for limiting the movement of the movable jaw toward the other, said means including a slidably mounted bar of different width at different sections thereof, said widths increasing progressively along said bar by amounts equal to the compressed thickness of one of said slats, and a stop connected to said movable jaw adapted to cooperate with a selected section of said bar to stop the jaw in accordance with the width of said selected section, in combination with tape magazine means mounted for movement toward and away from the edges of slats disposed in said jaws and normal to the movement of the movable jaw, ang means for moving said magazine, as aiore= sa1 5. Apparatus for connecting together a bundle of slats having receiving means for slat engaging elements and a, pleated Venetian blind tape having slat engaging elements secured thereto at equally spaced intervals, comprising in combination, means for holding said bundle of slats with their receiving means in a predetermined spaced relation and in which the receiving means of said slats are exposed, a magazine carrier disposed on each side of the slat holding means, a magazine for holding a pleated tape including means on said magazine for releasably gripping the said slat engaging elements and retaining them in the same predetermined spaced relation as the receiving means on the slat in the bundle, means for adjusting the position of the slat holding means relatively to the magazine carriers, means for imparting movement to said magazine carriers towards said slat holding means to connect said slat engaging elements with the receiving means carried by said slats, and means upon the magazine for retaining the same in position on the magazine carrier relatively to the slat holding means so that the slat engaging elements are aligned with the receiving means.

6. Apparatus for connecting together a bundle of slats having receiving means for slat engaging elements and a pleated Venetian blind tape having slat engaging elements secured thereto at equally spaced intervals, comprising in combination, means for pressing said bundle of slats together and holding them with the receiving means of said slats exposed, a gauge controlling the pressing means so that the receiving means of the slats are in a predetermined spaced relation, a magazine carrier disposed on each side of the slat holding means, a magazine for holdme a pleated tape including means on said magazine for releasably gripping the said slat engaging elements and retaining them in the same predetermined spaced relation as the receiving means on the slats in the bundle, means for imparting movement to said magazine carrier towards said'slat holding mean to connect said slat engaging elements with the receiving means carried by said slats, and means upon the magazine for retaining the same in position on the magazine carrier relative to the slat holding means so that the slat enga ing elements are aligned with the receiving means. v I

7. Apparatus for connecting together a bundle of slats having receiving means for slat engaging elements and a pleated Venetian blind tape having slat engaging elements secured thereto at equally spaced intervals, comprising in combination, means for supporting said bundle of slats with the receiving means of said slats exposed, means for pressing the bundle of slats together, a gauge controlling the pressing means so that the receiving means of the slats are in a predetermined spaced relation, means to adjust the position of the slat supporting means, a magazine carrier disposed on each side of the slat supporting means, a magazine for holding a pleated tape, including means on said magazine for releasably gripping the said slat engaging elements and retaining them in the same predetermined spaced relation as the receiving means on the slats in the bundle, means for imparting movement to said magazine carriers toward said slat supporting means to connect said slat engaging elements with the receiving means carried by said slats, and means upon the magazine for retaining the same in position on the magazine carrier relative to the slat holding means so that the slat engaging elements are aligned with the receiving means.

SAMUEL HAMMER. 

